NZ view: Wallabies are a serious threat and can end All Blacks’ winning run at Eden Park

THE New Zealand media can resemble the bloodthirsty hordes at a Roman coliseum ahead of a Bledisloe Test at Eden Park.

But not this time.

The traditional excitement of an anticipated mauling of the Wallabies has been tempered by New Zealand’s tepid performance on Saturday night, which followed an indifferent three-Test series against England.

They might have won their past 14 straight Bledisloe Tests at the ground — extending their record against Australia to an intimidating 21-4 dating back to 1925 at Eden Park — but the Kiwis are on edge after the attritional draw at ANZ Stadium.

“It’s 20 years since the All Blacks have lost at Eden Park and 28 since the Wallabies have beaten them on the Auckland ground. Yet both of those records must be under serious threat this week.”

Mehrtens has legitimate cause for concern. The All Blacks seldom looked like breaking the Wallabies line in a rain-drenched Bledisloe opener and failed to capitalise on their sizeable advantage in the tight five.

“Why not? They created the lion’s share of the opportunities in Sydney. The All Blacks made some big one-on-one hits and scrambled incredibly well on defence but the Aussies ran well into gaps and looked more likely to score the try that would have decided the contest.

“That they were so disappointed about the draw is also a good sign. That shows they’re not willing to settle. They want that All Black scalp.”

“One record is gone but the excitement is building within the All Blacks to set another straight in their return Bledisloe Cup encounter against the Wallabies at Eden Park on Saturday,” McKendry wrote.

“Although it is back to square one after Saturday’s draw in Sydney broke the streak of 17 victories, don’t expect wholesale changes, merely an attempt to return to what the All Blacks do best.

“After emerging from a team meeting at their Auckland hotel yesterday, Kieran Read spoke of the need for his side to go back to basics, a requirement to carry into contact hard, to recycle the ball, to build momentum, to get into positions where the Wallabies defence can be truly tested.

“These were areas at ANZ Stadium where, for whatever reason, the All Blacks couldn’t reach their usual standards and there is a resolve to do so at their fortress where they haven’t lost for 20 years and where Australia last won in 1986.”

The Kiwis have also turned to science (of sorts) in a bid to buoy spirits after Saturday night’s underwhelming outing.

A report carried by stuff.co.nz says a recent study into the All Blacks’ enduring success — commissioned by none other than a former New Zealand rugby player and administrator — predicts good times are ahead. As ever.

“New Zealand may have missed out on setting a new record for consecutive test rugby victories, but their domination of the game is unlikely to stop soon, an academic study claims,” the report states.

“The study, by former rugby administrator and provincial player Tom Johnson, has looked at how a country of less than 4.5 million people has managed to dominate world rugby for so long.

“The All Blacks have won more than 76 per cent of their 516 test matches since 1903, 10 per cent higher than South Africa, which has the second best record, winning 66 per cent of their 432 tests.”

Coach Steve Hansen talks to his All Blacks players during a training session in Auckland.Source:Getty Images

New Zealanders were relieved to learn of the appointment of Frenchman Romain Poite to referee the second Test, given the nationwide dissatisfaction with the performance of Jaco Peyper in Sydney.

“The players were denied the opportunity to play the game they wanted and instead of rugby, it became Cluedo — crimes being committed with no one sure whether it was Colonel Mustard with the candlestick in the library or Mrs Peacock with some rope in the conservatory,” wrote Gregor Paul of the New Zealand Herald.

“The Herald has learned that several international coaches are keen to engage the IRB in meaningful discussion about how to fix the problem: how to help the world’s leading officials more regularly produce the consistency required.”

“They cannot continue to have players sent to the sin bin — that’s seven in the last ten games now,” Johnson wrote.

“The two yellow card offences on Saturday night, in isolation, were a bit harsh.

“In both cases it’s easy to suspect that Jaco Peyper was looking for a reason to go to his pocket. The All Blacks several times gave away a string of penalties, or penalty advantages, and this left them vulnerable to a harsher sanction. He was justified in having his finger on the trigger, there was just a question over the two moments he squeezed it.

“It’s a situation the All Blacks should not have let themselves get into, and it is something that will need to be addressed not just for Eden Park, but well beyond that.”

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